Scopas tang
Zebrasoma scopas
Also known as Brown Tang, Twotone Tang, Brush-tail Tang
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 7.9 in
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 90 gal
- 340 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One per tank
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Acanthuridae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific
Overview
The Scopas tang is a brown Zebrasoma for a reef tank and one of the more forgiving tangs. It is easy to keep and a good choice for a first tang.
Did you know
Despite looking plain brown, the Scopas tang is the yellow tang's near-twin in shape and behavior. The two will fight if housed together, as if competing for the same job on the reef.
Caring for the Scopas tang
Give a Scopas tang at least 90 gal (340 L), with open swimming space, brisk flow and algae-covered rock to pick at between feedings. Keep the water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.
It is reef safe with corals when well fed. A hungry Scopas tang may start nipping LPS and soft corals, so keep dried algae available.
Its dull color is misleading. It will harass yellow and purple tangs and other members of its genus just as hard as they harass each other. Keep only one Zebrasoma per tank unless the system is very large.
Good to know
Zebrasoma scopas is closely related to the yellow tang and shares its disc-shaped body and long snout. It differs mainly in its brown coloration and a brush-like patch of bristles near the tail base. That patch gives it the name scopas, which means broom. Like all surgeonfish, it carries paired caudal spines that it uses in territorial fights.
In the wild
Scopas tangs are widespread across the Indo-Pacific, on coral-rich and rocky reefs from shallow lagoons out to reef faces. Their muted brown to olive body blends into the reef as they browse filamentous algae all day.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Scopas tang is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the middle. Keep one per tank of its own kind. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Swallowtail angelfish
Genicanthus melanospilos
Saltwater7.1 in (18 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Coral beauty angelfish
Centropyge bispinosa
Saltwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Melanurus wrasse
Halichoeres melanurus
Saltwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 100 gal (380 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Ring cowrie
Monetaria annulus
Saltwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Yellowtail tamarin wrasse
Anampses meleagrides
Saltwater8.7 in (22 cm) · 90 gal (340 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Scopas tang need?
A Scopas tang needs at least 90 gal (340 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Scopas tang need?
A Scopas tang is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a Scopas tang eat?
A Scopas tang picks at algae-covered rock between feedings. Keep dried algae available, since a hungry one may start nipping corals.
How big does a Scopas tang get?
An adult Scopas tang reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).
Related species
7.9 in (20 cm)100 gal (380 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Yellow tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
7.9 in (20 cm) · 100 gal (380 L)
8.3 in (21 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Black tang
Zebrasoma rostratum
8.3 in (21 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
8.7 in (22 cm)151 gal (570 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Gem tang
Zebrasoma gemmatum
8.7 in (22 cm) · 151 gal (570 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Purple tang
Zebrasoma xanthurum
9.8 in (25 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)145 gal (550 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Sailfin tang
Zebrasoma veliferum
11.8 in (30 cm) · 145 gal (550 L)
15.7 in (40 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Red Sea sailfin tang
Zebrasoma desjardinii
15.7 in (40 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)